Anxiety Treatment Options for Middle-aged Women

Follow us

A generalized anxiety condition is defined by constant feelings of fear or worry. The mood swings and hormonal changes that happen during menopause can sometimes aggravate anxiety conditions. There is a variety of anxiety treatments that have been shown to work, including self-help remedies and medical therapies, such as the ones mentioned below.

Regular Exercise

For overall health, it is generally recommended to do at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. However, aside from benefiting the body, exercise also benefits the mind; it encourages the release of serotonin and endorphins, which naturally elevate mood. Studies have shown that these neurotransmitters relieve anxiety, meaning that exercise is an effective treatment. Cycling, swimming, or aerobics are just a few examples of activities you could try.

Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep can cause moodiness and unreasonable thoughts, and this can add to any existing anxieties you might have. Less sleep can also raise levels of cortisol, a neurotransmitter associated with stress. Consequently, sleep and maintaining a regular sleep schedule is one of the best natural anxiety treatments.

Pursue a Hobby

Dedicating more time to an existing interest or picking up a new hobby can help control the anxiety in your life. Everyone has different interests, but spending time on things you are passionate about can soothe anxiety and give you an outlet. Your outlet can be anything from an artistic pursuit like painting, sculpting, or learning a new instrument, to a physical activity like rock-climbing, biking, or tennis, or something completely different like bird-watching, learning a new language, or baking.

Talking it Out

Talking about your problems is a therapeutic act, and there is counseling available - talk to your doctor to see what local services exist in your area. Some people might benefit from group therapies, whereas others might feel more comfortable in a one-on-one situation. Online and in person support groups and telephone help lines are also available to people with anxiety conditions. However, if the idea of talking to strangers does not appeal to you, talking to a loved one about your feelings can also help. The most important thing is to reduce feelings of isolation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an evidence-based psychological treatment that has been shown to be effective. Anxiety is mostly about thought patterns; negative ones can give rise to the physical symptoms that many people with anxiety experience. Therefore, by altering the way a person with anxiety thinks about certain situations, the way they act in those situations is also changed. CBT has been shown to reduce the chances of anxiety episodes.

There are many anxiety treatments available, and the best way to decide which ones will work for you is by consulting a professional and finding out the full facts. Lifestyle changes should be the first step, and they will also complement any medical and behavioral treatments well.

Everyone feels anxious at some point in their lives, and this includes women who are experiencing perimenopause. Anxiety is defined as feelings of overwhelming uneasiness or apprehension.Click here to learn more about anxiety during menopause.

Anxiety is twice as likely to affect women as it is men, and this psychological problem can be even more common during menopause. Anxiety is twice as likely to affect women as it is men, and this psychological problem can be even more common during menopause.

Sources:

Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia. (2014). What Is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy? Retrieved August 28, 2014, from http://www.anxietybc.com/what-cbt

American Heart Association. (n.d.). Take Action to Control Stress. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/Stress-Management_UCM_001082_SubHomePage.jsp

We strive to be the most informative menopausal health website. Over the years, we've helped millions of women gain the knowledge they need to thrive during the menopause transition. We encourage everyone to read and learn about menopause in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle and support the women in their lives.

The content of these informational pages is for educational purposes and health care support only and does not intend to be used for diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.